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Newcastle New Year’s Eve 2023

Newcastle Fireworks CREDIT_ City of Newcastle

Foreshore Park, Newcastle

Start 16:00
Fireworks 21:00
Finish 21:15

Important Event Information

Big crowds are expected to attend the Newcastle New Year’s Eve on Sunday 31 December. From 4pm to 9.15pm, the Queens Wharf precinct will be transformed into a vibrant carnival with rides, inflatables and amusements, roving entertainers, three DJ dancefloors, maker stations and art workshops, and a dedicated Sensory Area.

Two show-stopping aerobatic flyovers by Paul Bennet will be sure to turn heads to the sky, while a trio of fire dancers will dazzle audiences on the ground before a massive fireworks finale at 9pm.

The best way to get to and from the event is by public transport – train, light rail and ferry services. Plan ahead using the Trip Planner.

Remember, you'll need to use an Opal card or contactless payment card/device when travelling on public transport to and from the event. Register your details online at Opal or via the Opal Travel app ahead of time.

Heavier than usual traffic is expected, so allow extra travel time – you can find real-time updates on traffic conditions at livetraffic.com.

Opal

You can use an Opal card for all modes of public transport in Sydney and surrounding regions, including metro, trains, buses, ferries and light rail.

Remember to top up your Opal card before you travel to avoid waiting in line at top-up machines. You can top up your card online or at an Opal retailer.

More ways to pay

If you have a contactless-enabled American Express, Mastercard or Visa debit or credit card, or a linked device, you can use it to pay for your travel by tapping on and tapping off at Opal card readers. Available on all public transport, contactless payments are another way to pay on the Opal network. Adult Opal fare pricing applies and you will receive Opal benefits, including daily and weekly fare caps.

The closest station to the event is Newcastle Interchange on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line, and Hunter Line.

From the station, it is approximately 2.5km (35-40 minutes) walk via the foreshore footpath to Queens Wharf Foreshore.

Alternatively, catch a light rail service from Newcastle Interchange to Queens Wharf. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

To help you get to and from the event, the following additional services will run:

  • Central Coast and Newcastle Line: An additional service will leave Newcastle Interchange at 10.32pm stopping all stations to Berowra (except Wondabyne), Hornsby, Epping, Strathfield then Central.
  • Hunter Line – from Telarah: Additional services will leave Telarah at 5.33pm, 6.31pm and 7.33pm – stopping all stations to Newcastle Interchange.
  • Hunter Line –  to Telarah: Additional services will leave Newcastle Interchange at 9.29pm, 10.29pm, 11.59pm, 1.02am and 3.15am – stopping all stations to Telarah.

Trackwork

Trackwork is taking place on Sunday 31 December and may affect how you travel to and from the event:

  • T2 Inner West & Leppington Line: Some trains run to a changed timetable and stopping pattern due to trackwork on the T3 Bankstown Line. From 10am Sunday to 6am Monday, Inner West trains run between Liverpool and the City via Regents Park, stopping at all stations between Liverpool and Lidcombe, then running between Homebush and the City.
  • T5 Cumberland Line: Some trains run to a changed timetable and stopping pattern due to trackwork on the T3 Bankstown Line.
  • T3 Bankstown Line: Buses replace trains between Lidcombe, Cabramatta and Sydenham. Trains run between Sydenham and the City Circle, some to a changed timetable. From 10am Sunday to 6am Monday, special New Years Eve trains run between Liverpool and the City via Regents Park. Buses continue to replace trains between Lidcombe and Sydenham. Trackwork continues on parts of the T3 Bankstown Line until 25 January.
  • T8 Airport & South Line: Some trains may run to a changed timetable due to trackwork on the T3 Bankstown Line.

Trackwork is carried out on an ongoing basis to maintain the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the Sydney Trains network. Trackwork may affect how you travel so allow plenty of extra travel time and plan ahead. For train service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Bus routes 11, 13, 14 & 23 will operate to a Sunday timetable.

Bus Diversions

Route bus will be diverted at Darby Street to Hunter and Scott Streets to Customs House from 6pm until the end of service. Plan ahead with the Trip Planner ahead of time and check signs at stops for details.

Visit Newcastle Transport for bus information. For bus service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Ferry services will be extended until midnight.

The last ferry service will depart Queens Wharf at midnight.

Visit Newcastle Transport for ferry information. For ferry service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Light rail services will run every 7.5 minutes from 4pm until 11pm, and then every 15 minutes until 1am. The last service will depart Newcastle Beach at 12.45am on Monday 1 January 2024.

Newcastle Light Rail runs between Newcastle Interchange and Newcastle Beach making stops at Honeysuckle, Civic, Crown St and Queens Wharf along the way. Queens Wharf platform is the closest stop to the main event area.

For maps and service frequencies see light rail service information. For Light rail service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Transport

  • Metro: Sydney Metro is a fully accessible railway. If you have limited mobility, you can travel on all metro services. Every metro station has lifts and there is level access between platforms and trains for people in wheelchairs, scooters, walking frames, prams and strollers. This means no ‘step’ into a carriage.
  • Train: the closest train station is Newcastle Interchange, which is a fully accessible station. If you have limited mobility, you can board and travel on most train services in NSW. There are some exceptions on older NSW TrainLink Regional and Intercity trains.
  • Bus: the majority of local bus services in NSW are accessible. If you have limited mobility, you can board and travel on most buses. On rare occasions, due to operational requirements a non-accessible bus may be used to substitute accessible services. Most buses that will be used to operate shuttle services between McDonald Jones Stadium and Newcastle will be accessible.
  • Ferry: Stockton ferry vessels and wharves are fully accessible.
  • Light Rail: if you have limited mobility, you can travel on all light rail services. Staff can assist you with getting on and off light rail vehicles. There are ramps or lifts for getting to and from the platform and all light rail stops have network maps and electronic information displays indicating when the next service is due.

Accessible trips are shown in the Trip Planner with the wheelchair icon. You can select "accessible services only" in the Options to ensure you only see accessible services. Only trip plans with accessible train platforms, ferry wharves and buses will be presented. See accessible travel or download a transport app (select the "Accessibility" filter).